WEEK 33

WHY NOW IS THE BEST TIME TO SPRUCE UP YOUR PATIO

So you went all summer without prettying up your patio or making over your yard. And now the kids are going back to school, so playtime is over for a while. Well, there's always next year.

Actually, you don't have to wait. Now is the perfect time to get busy out there. With school back in session, the entire neighborhood isn't crowding into Lowe's Garden Center. Less competition and end-of-the-season retail trends mean better prices. In fact, sales on everything from outdoor dining tables to casual seating to accessories make this the time you want to run right out and get all the stuff you didn't get a few months ago.

“It's no surprise that items like outdoor patio furniture go on sale at the end of the summer, since retailers have to get ready for Fall merchandise,” said Lozo. “Furniture is big and bulky and therefore takes up a lot of space in the store, so they are particularly eager to move it out. Unlike some other seasonal items…you will often see furniture move very quickly to the best deals.”

With the weather starting to cool – or about to – it's the perfect time to start enjoying your freshened-up outdoor area.

Start with your local Lowe's or Home Depot, which both have numerous outdoor items on clearance in August and September (September is a particularly good time to buy a gas grill or lawnmower, according to Consumer Reports). Target, Walmart, and stores like Cost Plus World Market and Pier One are also great choices.